How to Cook Cabbage

Cabbage is a welcome addition to any healthy diet. It boasts of a low-calorie count while having several important nutrients. Knowing how to cook cabbage can make it a favorite at your table. Here will we will show you how to cook cabbage from the prep stage to ideas for delicious recipes. Before you know it, cabbage may be regularly making it into your meals.

How do you know which cabbage is the best for cooking?

Cabbage is a vegetable with a reasonable enough shelf life. It can last in your refrigerator for about 5 days. When shopping for a cabbage look for one with unblemished leaves. It must feel firm to the touch and feel heavy in your hand. Cabbages can be green or purple and both are good for cooking. Never choose a cabbage that has brown spots or one where the leaves look withered or bruised in any way.

How Do You Prep a Cabbage for Cooking?

Regardless of the way you plan to cook your cabbage, there are some basic steps to prepping that you must follow.

Here is a quick easy guide to help you:

  1. Remove the tough outer leaves to reveal fresh newer leaves below.
  2. Rinse your cabbage and mop dry with a paper towel
  3. Cut off the cabbage stem
  4. Cut your cabbage into half and then in quarters, be sure to use a sharp knife and keep a firm grip on your cabbage while you cut.
  5. Cut off the stem from each of the quarters. Lay the quarter cabbage on a cutting board and cut at an angle. Repeat for the other 3 pieces.
  6. Take each quarter and chop it into smaller pieces

How many ways can I cook cabbage?

There is some variety in how to cook cabbage. You can either steam, boil, sauté, or grill cabbage for best results.

Here are some easy-to-follow instructions on how to execute each method effectively.

Steaming Cabbage

Firstly, we should say that you should stop at the quartering stage if you are going to steam your cabbage.

  1. Put your steamer basket over a large pot.
  2. Fill your pot with water just below the steamer basket
  3. Bring the water to boil
  4. Add the quartered cabbage to the basket.
  5. Cover the pot and let the cabbage cook for approximately 12 minutes
  6. Test the cabbage to see if it is tender
  7. Remove from heat when it is cooked
  8. It can be served with salt and pepper to taste

Boiling Cabbage

  1. Fill a large pot with water or vegetable stock if you want some added flavor
  2. Add salt to taste
  3. Allow the water/vegetable broth to reach boiling point.
  4. Add your chopped cabbage to the pot
  5. Let it cook for 2 minutes uncovered, this usually helps with the odor that accompanies cabbage
  6. Cover and let it cook for approximately 8 minutes
  7. Drain cabbage in a colander
  8. Serve with salt, pepper, and olive oil

Sautéing Cabbage

  1. Add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil to a frying pan at medium-high heat
  2. Reduce heat and toss in the cabbage
  3. Stir the cabbage until cooked for approximately 6 minutes
  4. Add salt, pepper, and any other seasoning of your choice and serve.

Grilling Cabbage

  1. Cut the cabbage into wedges
  2. Cover each wedge with butter and then add pepper, garlic, salt, chopped onions, parsley, chives, and any other seasoning of your choice
  3. Wrap each seasoned wedge in foil and grill for 40 minutes, be sure to turn each wedge twice.

To Wrap Up

Of course, cabbage can be added to many dishes. If you have time on your hand, you can whip out your crockpot and make a vegetable broth. Simply chop up your vegetables, including your cabbage add your seasoning, salt, stock, and pepper, and let it simmer. The wonderful aroma and tender veggies will let you know when it's done.

Cabbage also pairs well with meats, chicken chunks, bacon strips, strips of beef. You can fry the meat in the cooking oil of your choice and add your chopped cabbage with onions, salt, and pepper. This should take about 5-15 minutes depending on the meat you are cooking.

In short, there are so many options when it comes to cooking cabbage and each one can result in a delicious meal.